Current Production

February 18th - March 20th

Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm
Sundays at 7:00pm

Presented at the RBP Rorschach, located at 4001 N. Ravenswood at the intersection of Irving Park & Ravenswood on the northeast side of the Metra tracks.

Admission is a suggested $15 donation, and reservations are highly recommended, as seating is limited. Please call the RBP box office at 773.750.2033 or e-mail us your ticket requests at
tickets@therbp.org.

About The Production

"The actors crackle with un-self-conscious boldness... Its excellence is its matter-of-fact handling of such desperate and intimate material. Even if you guess a few twists before they come, you're unlikely to predict the pace and plainness with which they're presented, and plain is rarely so magnetic."

-Benno Nelson
Time Out Chicago

The Right Brain Project is proud to present local playwright Randall Colburn’s intimate portrait of five individuals uncomfortable in their own skin who find a fleeting solace through Penny, Victoria’s alter-ego, who is willing to be whatever they need her to be. When young Vick takes the job of a phone sex operator on a no taboo line, she is in for much more than she bargained for. While she expected raunchy and morally questionable phone calls, she didn’t imagine she would fall in love with her own alter ego and the strength it gives her. Meanwhile, Crystal is a print model who discovers that the racy photos taken of her ten years ago are currently being used as the face of Penny. Though initially upset, Crystal is alarmed to find herself intrigued at the prospect of being the face of so many fantasies. Tommy, Crystal’s boyfriend, finds himself interested in Penny as well, but for very different reasons that not even he seems to fully grasp. When Vick eventually meets Crystal, the face of Penny, Vick gives her an offer difficult to refuse and suddenly heavy emotions and significant consequences are at stake. PRETTY PENNY is a new play that examines sexual fantasy vs. reality, and how what we accept or don’t accept about ourselves defines our personalities and our relationships.      

Cast + Crew

Katy Albert (Vick) graduated from Western Washington University in the spring with a BA in Theatre. She is quite new to Chicago and is very pleased that her first play is with the Right Brain Project. Recently she has been in the NPA readings of FRAMED and BOOTLEG at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and NEVER SWIM ALONE with Balls Deep Theatre Theater.

Stephen Gawrit (Adam), a native Chicagoan, is extremely excited to be working with the Right Brain Project. He’s a graduate from both the Chicago Academy for the Arts (Theatre) and Illinois State University (B.A. Acting). Stephen has also trained with Profiles Theatre and the National Institute for Dramatic Arts Australia (NIDA). His upcoming projects include: CHARLEY’S SONATA this April and the debut of his punk/folk musical STALK this fall; both showing at the La Costa Theatre (Resident Playwright). Recently Stephen has been seen in such productions as: GARDEN OF THE THREE (Gorilla Tango), COMEDY OF ERRORS (Chase Park Theatre), and TROILUS AND CRESSIDA (Tafety Punk Theatre). Special thanks to his family, friends, and teachers for their constant support.

Nick Mikula (Tommy) is proud to be working with the Right Brain Project!  A graduate of Illinois State University's Acting Program, he was last seen in The Man who Was Thursday at New Leaf Theatre, and has worked with Chicago Shakespeare, Signal Ensemble, Ka-Tet,  the Abbie Hoffman Festivals at Mary Arrchie, Gift, Greasy Joan, and New Leaf Theatre. Also, he can be seen performing with the improv groups Octavarius and Sam Hill. Nick would like thank his parents, Caroline, and John for all their support.

Susan Myburgh (Crystal) moved to Chicago in 2008 after graduating from Florida State with a B.A. in Theatre. She is a founding member of Tympanic Theatre Company where she's directed MORALITY PLAY, GREGOR AND THE SQUONK, THE GREAT BLACK VULTURE, and TEA. Her Chicago acting credits include LEA: A NIGHTMARE (Gorilla Tango Theatre),DEVILS DON'T FORGET (The Mammals), DISTURBED 2009 (Oracle Theatre), THE RIDE DOWN MOUNT MORGAN (Red Twist Theatre)and the late Apple Tree Theatre.  In January she can be seen in Tympanic Theatre’s AND THEN IT BURSTS for Curious Theatre’s 2010 Rhinoceros Festival and this summer she will be directing ALICE IN WONDERLAND at Endstation Theatre in Sweet Briar, Virginia.  She’s long wanted to work with The Right Brain Project, and couldn’t be happier to be a part of this excellent ensemble!

Josh Sumner (Jerry): is excited to be part of this wonderful show. You may have seen him last summer wielding axes and swords in MACBETH at First Folio Shakespeare. Josh is a graduate of the Masters program at the Theatre School, DePaul University. Since graduating he has worked locally with such companies as Chicago Dramatists, Emerald City, Collision, Infamous Commonwealth, Speaking Ring, and New World Reperatory. Regionally he has also acted and directed for Tibbits Opera House in Michigan and the Boiler Room Theater in Tennessee. Josh also starred in the independent movie THE HUMAN TRACE which won last year's Cedar Rapids Film Festival award for best feature film. Josh would like to thank you as well as his wonderful friends and family for supporting the arts.

Buck Zachary (Wallace Frankenstein) was last seen onstage at The Artistic Home as Smilin' Jack in CUT TO THE CHASE, and as as Stan Kelly in 1512 W. STUDEBAKER PLACE with Brain Surgeon Theater Company.  Other Chicago credits include MUD PEOPLE at Mary Arrchie, PLAYING WITH FIRE (AFTER FRANKENSTEIN) at Boho, LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL at the Artistic Home, and HELLCAB at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center.  Buck is also a bartender, a great massage therapist, and a lucky husband.



Randall Colburn (Playwright): Randall's plays have been seen or heard at the Alliance Theatre, the Public Theatre, Victory Gardens, Stage Left Theatre, Dream Theatre Company, and InFusion Theatre, among others. He is the recipient of playwriting fellowships from Dad's Garage Theatre in Atlanta and the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference, a finalist for both the Alliance's Kendeda Graduate Playwright Competition and the 2009 New York Summer Play Fest (LAMP & MOTH), and his short play RAVISHMENT was part of the Northwest Playwrights Alliance 2008 British Arts Tour. Randall's "bad" play, SCARECROW... won the 2009 DrekFest award for World's Worst 10-Minute Play with Chicago's Stage Left Theatre. A bad movie scholar, Randall is also the co-founder and co-host of B-RATED, an online review show, and is featured in the hit documentary, BEST WORST MOVIE.

Nathan Robbel (Director) the artistic director of the RBP and has been directing in the Chicagoland area for nearly nine years. For the Right Brain Project, Nathan has directed AND THEY PUT HANDCUFFS ON THE FLOWERS, PUT MY FINGER IN YOUR MOUTH, THE EMPIRE BUILDERS, FRANZ KAFKA'S THE CASTLE, CHALK, and THE MODERN PROMETHEUS, amongst others. He has also had the pleasure to direct at Around the Coyote, The Side Project, The Bailiwick, Goshen Indiana's New World Center for the Arts, and the Chicago Sable Ensemble. Nathan also dabbles in sound design and occasionally jumps on stage himself when the opportunity presents itself. Nathan would like to thank Randall for allowing him the opportunity to helm his work, and this wonderful cast who are willing to take the risks that make great art.

Jamie Bragg (Dramaturg) is delighted to make her debut with the Right Brain Project, and to collaborate again with playwright Randall Colburn. Recent Chicago dramaturgy credits include RETURN TO HAIFA (Next Theatre), RHYMES WITH EVIL Evil and an annual New Play Development Workshop (both InFusion Theatre). She held a literary internship (2005-2006) at Actors Theatre of Louisville, home of the Humana Festival of New American Plays. Also an actor, Jamie may be seen onstage in Oracle Theatre's THE CASTLE, which runs January 23 - March 6. She holds BAs in Drama and English from the University of Georgia.

Michelle Carlene Roth (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with the RBP again after stage managing their recent production of THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. A graduate of North Dakota State University with a Bacherlor of Fine Arts in Theater, Michelles recently ventured into the world of stage management. Prior to commanding the booth, Michelle could be seen on stage. Some of her favorite roles include Catherine in PROOF, Joan in ST. JOAN, Latrell in SORDID LIVES, Juliet in ROMEO AND JULIET, Laura in THE GLASS MENAGERIE, Helena in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and Aunt Ruth in MARVIN'S ROOM. Michelle would like to thank her friends for all of their love and support over the last few months. She would also like to extend a special thanks to Nathan for inviting her back to work with him, always asking her opinion and being a generally awesome guy to work with.

Elizabeth Bagby (Mime Consultant) is delighted to be working with the RBP again after performing in CHALK, THE DESIGNATED MOURNER, and FRANZ KAFKA'S THE CASTLE. Other recent performances in Chicago include work with Strange Tree Group (of which she is an artistic associate), Signal Ensemble, Filament, Chicago ScriptWorks, Trap Door, Striding Lion, and the Acto's Gymnasium. Elizabeth is also directing IAZZI for Omen Sade's one-man commedia dell'arte show ARLECCHINO'S ODYSSEY. This spring, she is looking forward to acting in NIGHTHAWK SANDWICH, part of WNEP's HOPPER PROJECT, and the side project's PEOPLE WE KNOW, as well as making music for Strange Tree's KING PHYCUS.